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ІX International vocal and choral contest-festival “Let a Song Gather Friends” took place in Chernivtsi in April 2018 for the first time. The purpose of this musical forum was the popularization of vocal choral singing.

For eight years the youth forum has been held in Luhansk region at Taras Shevchenko Luhansk National University. However, due to the forced evacuation of the university at that time, the contest-festival ceased to exist. The festival was revived as part of the “East + West = Peace” project.

The founder of the contest and ideological inspirer is Olha Churikova-Kushnir, the associate professor at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The forum immediately has become popular among supporters of vocal-choral art, famous performers, musicologists and representatives of Chernivtsi cultural community.

About 800 participants took part in the festival last year. There were both collectives and solo performers. The members of the jury were prominent figures in the musical arts of Ukraine and foreign countries such as Austria, Italy, Romania, Moldova and China.

The unique musical project brought together outstanding professional and amateur choral and vocal groups, as well as vocalists from all over the country at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University and the concert halls of the city.

The contest-festival presented the audience with vivid emotions from performing vocal choral singing, giving participants the opportunity to share creative achievements and to get to know each other better. Within the framework of the event there were concerts of participants with a free program at various concert venues of the city and Chernivtsi National University. Performers had the opportunity to communicate with famous singers, composers, conductors, improving their professional level.

Since 2019, the Contest-Festival is under the patronage of the Ukrainian National Commission for UNESCO. Since that time the historical city of Chernivtsi has gained a new status – the capital of vocal and choral art.

привітання

Dear friends!

I sincerely congratulate the participants and organizers of the X International Vocal and Choral Contest-Festival “Let a Song Gather Friends” within the framework of the cultural-artistic “East + West = Peace” project, held by Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University!

Ukrainian choral singing is a pearl of national musical culture, a unique musical phenomenon of world scale, a soul of the people, which has its centuries-old history and traditions, which were formed in the depths of folk and professional musical art.

Through the choir art, the world has recognized Ukraine, its music, history and culture. Today, the Ukrainian choral culture is further developing, its integration into the European and world socio-cultural space.

I am confident that the festival will promote the patriotic education of the younger generation, will become a platform for the promotion of vocal and choral art, the discovery of talented performers and the disclosure of their creative potential.

I wish you success, creative inspiration, interesting cultural exchanges, new creative ideas and professional achievements!

Acting MinisterRoman Treba

Dear friends!

Accept our sincere congratulations on the occasion of the X International Vocal and Choral Contest-Festival «Let a Song Gather Friends» in the framework of the Cultural and Artistic Project «East + West = Peace».

The last year’s Contest-Festival showed that the musical forum, which was revived in Chernivtsi, is steadfastly walking with Bukovyna. Undoubtedly, it’s a noble goal – popularization of cultural heritage, preservation and development of the traditions of Ukrainian art in the world of music.

Dear members! A challenging marathon, full of creativity and inspiration, interesting events and the opportunity to communicate with the outstanding figures of musical art, awaits you. Among you will be laureates and diplomats, but there will be no defeated. Participation in such a resonant project is already a victory!

Minister of Culture of Ukraine
Yevgeniy Nishchuk

Dear friends!

I am pleased to note that the X Anniversary International Vocal and Choral Contest-Festival «Let a Song Gather Friends», which was launched in Luhansk, now will take place in Chernivtsi, on the melodic land of Bukovina, where the unsurpassed Josef Schmidt and Dmytro Hnatiuk, Volodymyr Ivasiuk and Nazarii Yaremchuk were born.

The Contest-Festival «Let a Song Gather Friends» is going to be held for the second time within the framework of the International Cultural and Artistic Project «East + West = Peace» and serves as a peculiar platform for annual meetings for both artists and businessmen, diplomats, politicians in the name of peace and prosperity of independent Ukraine.

Despite all the difficulties and hardships of the present day, the Contest-Festival demonstrates the fundamental values of civilization through the prism of culture and art, which is especially relevant and necessary for the younger generations.

Welcome to Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (one of the oldest classical universities in Ukraine and the UNESCO World Heritage Site) where every participant of the Festival can feel its magic atmosphere, get acquainted with the outstanding creative personalities, prove once again, that art has no borders!

Manager of the «East + West =Peace» project, Member of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, Vice-Rector of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University Prof. Tamara Marusyk